Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just that I'm getting old and a little tired.
However, after many years playing aeroplanes (so many of my sensible friends think) I've come to the conclusion that aviation is always better last week.
The money was better, the rosters were nicer, the beer was cheaper, the boss was friendlier. Every discussion I can recall over the last 10 years always leads to the inevitable conclusion that things are only getting worse. Look at any thread regarding a specific employer or geographic area and ask yourself how many posts you can find regarding the fabulous improvement in conditions and the rapidly increasing salary.
Senior executive salaries have increased from 50 times the average worker's to over 800 times the average worker's (Figures from the Euro Wall St Journal earlier in the week, which I may have slightly misquoted.) Our wages have gone from 10 times the average worker's to 2 times if you're lucky.
Somebody, jump in and tell me where things are improving. At a major please as job security and career advancement in a seniority based industry are still generally dependent upon corporate size.
If nobody can do so, then please point out to all your wannabe friends, wannabe children of your sensible friends, wannabe acquaintances and wannabe relatives that this job in this industry is dying.
Maybe it's still better than selling mobile phones. Maybe it's still better than working for the council. No judgement implied against people engaged in these pursuits, BTW. But, if you had put as much effort, commitment and money into pursuing another career would you have been selling phones or emptying street corner rubbish bins?
We all know the answer to that question. And unfortunately, this is where our professionalism, effort and expertise have taken us. There's no turn around on the slippery slope. Things will always be better last week...
